Things You Need to Avoid Sharing with Your Loved Ones

Things You Need to Avoid Sharing with Your Loved Ones

You’re actually never too close to anyone to the extent of sharing these items with them. There are some huge hygiene red lines you should never ever cross, not even with your significant other.

In fact, sharing a couple of personal items that seem totally harmless can be much more dangerous than you may think. Well, you can always feel free to share if you like brushing your teeth with nasty viruses and washing your body with invisible disgusting fungus.

To stay healthy and keep your loved ones safe, follow this simple rule “Never share!” If someone asked to borrow any of these things, just say “No,” or refer them to this article.

#1 – BAR SOAP

First of all, bar soaps do not clean themselves! Each time you use the bar, you contaminate it with organisms (could be friendly germs or severe pathogens humans normally carry) from your skin.

Surprisingly, even if you’re using an antibacterial soap, the bar is still going to be an ineffective germ eliminator compared to alcohol. And there would be even worse consequences in case you’re storing the soap in a wet spot, simply because, as you may already know, all the nasty stuff (viruses, fungi, and bacteria) tend to thrive in moisture.

Another level of danger includes stomach flu (or norovirus) and CA-MRSA, which is a bacteria responsible for severe infections and illnesses.

However, according to experts, sharing soap with your partner can be less harmful since your bodies have familiarized to one another’s bacteria.

#2 – TOWELS

You may have already noticed a funny smell on a towel at least once, well, what you sniffed there is actually mildew, fungus, and bacteria that are living and thriving on that bathroom towel.

So don’t be surprised if you got pink eye, acne, or skin infection, after using a contaminated towel. Besides bacteria and fungal infections, towels can also transfer the aforementioned dangerous CA-MRSA bacteria.

You shouldn’t only keep your towels to yourself but also wash them after every 4 uses and make sure they’re completely dry.

#3 – LOOFAHS

The downside of these colorful balls is that they never get to fully dry between uses, making it easier for viruses and fungi from your dead skin cells to thrive.

An infected loofah can transmit various infections, and the same applies to washcloths. You sure don’t want to get any nail fungus, acne, or worse, ringworm. Generally, if the item is usually wet, never ever share it.

#4 – RAZORS AND HAIR TRIMMER

Even if it’s an emergency case, never use your friend’s or anybody else’s razor! Here’s why, while shaving, the razor doesn’t only remove hair but also gathers dead skin cells along with bacteria.

And the more individuals use it, the greater is the risk of infection. Dangerously, cuts and abrasions caused by razors can also transmit terrible blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.

Also, the trimmer should never be shared unless it was sanitized properly. Used trimmers can transmit bacteria, boosting your risk of getting folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) and acne.

#5 – LIP BALM AND ANYTHING IN A JAR (LIKE CREAMS AND VASELINE)

Experts explain that, under the surface of our lips, we find a huge network of blood vessels that can absorb anything you apply, allowing bacteria to travel through your mouth’s membranes into your bloodstream. This simply means that sharing is virus spreading.

As for those precious little cream jars, they get contaminated with new germs every time somebody dips a finger in. These germs eventually end up on the next user’s face. If you need to share some, use a Popsicle stick or Q-tip.

#6 – NAIL CLIPPERS

Nail clippers are a big no-no, even if both of you apparently have healthy and clean nails. Sharing clippers is risky because they’re used on toes and fingers, where fungus and warts like to hide. This can result in nail fungus or plantar warts.

You can use alcohol to clean your clippers after use but it’s best to keep them for personal use only.

#7 – TWEEZERS

If you’re going out and notice a couple of stray hairs preventing your eyebrows from looking flawless, you may be ready to borrow tweezers from any stranger because how harmful can it be! Well, very!

As long as the tweezers are clean, there’s no big risk in sharing them. However, once you use them to dig out an ingrown hair (we all do that), they become ready to transmit blood-borne diseases.

Although the transmission of dangerous diseases like HIV or hepatitis C using infected tweezers rarely happens, it’s still possible. For extra safety, clean your tweezers using alcohol in case they came in contact with blood (even if you can’t see it).

#8 – ANTIPERSPIRANT AND DEODORANT

Besides being gross, sharing used sticks can lead to infections. Actually, certain types of deodorants work by destroying odor-causing bacteria, offering extra protection. Yet, most deodorants, particularly organic types, only cover the smell with fragrance.

This makes it easy for underarm germs to move and live on the stick. So unless you wipe down the stick with alcohol, you should never share it.

#9 – FLIP-FLOPS OR SHOWER SHOES

Imagine how gross it can be to wear old filthy flip-flops… That’s exactly how wearing your friend’s pair can be!

You should consider shower shoes to be as personal as your toothbrush since your feet’s fungus and bacteria tend to live on your shoes, particularly when there’s plenty of moisture.

Sharing a pair of flip-flops can actually transfer viruses, warts, and athlete’s foot.

#10 – EARBUDS

When you forget your earbuds at the gym, you might be willing to dive in the trash for a pair, but experts say you should better do without them. Earbuds collect plenty of ear bacteria, which increase while exercising due to the extra moisture and warmth.

Moreover, sharing earbuds is sharing bacteria that can live in your earwax and lead to pustules, boils, or infections. In case you really need to share, dip a cotton ball in alcohol and wipe down the earbuds before and after sharing.